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GINGRAS & TAKTER TEAM TO WIN HAMBLETONIAN OAKS WITH ARIANNA G

Saturday, August 5, 2017

The 1-5 favorite Ariana G, with Yannick Gingras driving, cruised to a four and
three quarters length victory over Magic Presto to capture the $500,000
Hambletonian Oaks, the 12th race on Saturday at the Meadowlands.
Trained by Jimmy Takter, Ariana G was moved to the lead at the half-mile
mark at 54.4 and then cruised to victory, the fourth time for the team of
Takter and Gingras in the Oaks. The mile was time in 1:51.2.

Gingras was holding up four fingers to celebrate the win
after crossing the finish line. It was Gingras’ fourth win on the card.

“I was really concerned about Magic Presto and obviously you have to respect
the competition,” said Gingras. “When she
got away on the first turn and I really didn’t want to be first over that long
of the way, so I decided to do whatever I needed to do to get her to the front.
It wasn’t the best move I think, but she is just a great horse and a great
horse can overcome anything.”

Arianna G’s full sister, All The Time, won the Oaks last
year with a time of 1:52.1.

The 2016 Dan Patch Award winner as Two-Year-Old Filly Trotter of the Year, she
has won 15-of-18 lifetime starts and this year has clocked sub 1:52 on four
separate occasions.

The Gingras/Takter combo has won four straight Hambletonian Oaks and Takter
notched his seventh overall, which makes him the winningest trainer in Oaks
history.

“She did a tremendous mile. It was a tough opening, because she cut all the way
to the front due to the high pace,” said Takter. “She is just in a class of her
own.”

Arianna G paid a modest $2.40, $2.10, and $2.10 .

Magic Presto with Brain Sears finished second paying $3.00 and $2.40, and Dream
Together with Daniel Dube finished third paying $2.60.